Bonk Against Nothing

Norwegian quartet Bonk love rock & roll that gets down and dirty, but they throw listeners for enough loops on Bonk Against Nothing to leave a more interesting album than just that of the standard garage rock variety. Coming off very British (see "The Homecoming"), they certainly have the confidence and energy of many of their peers, but there's more of cool and collected vibe running throughout their music instead of just reckless hedonism, which makes Bonk seem smarter (despite their stupid name) and more appealing than most. They spit punk intensity more than swaggering haughtiness, and it seems the guys still have more brewing up their collective sleeve — which is pretty exciting news in terms of their next album. Though the album's second half rings more memorable than the first, Bonk splash bluesy touches here, hard rock power there, and garage dirt throughout, making the overall album pretty varied. Throw in random cuts like the standout electrified cheerleading to acoustic rumble of "Demian," the excellent steady creep of "Everyday #," and the punk meets spoken word force of the title track and "Young Men," which layers an erratic saxophone over propulsive drums and driving guitars, and Bonk Against Nothing actually gets more fun and invigorating with each deserving spin.